Chapter Seventy-Five: The Red Apricot Over the Wall
Qingyuxuan.
Having set a date to bring his beloved girl into the household, Gu Xiuming was almost overwhelmed with joy. However, the thought that his beloved girl could only be a concubine filled him with self-reproach. If he hadn't eloped with Wan'er and ruined his reputation, Wan'er could have been his principal wife.
To make amends to his beloved, Gu Xiuming personally instructed the maid to carefully decorate the courtyard in a style that Li Wan'er would like, and also ordered the maid to buy some household items for young ladies.
Seeing how much he valued this Concubine Li, treating her with the same care as a wife even though it was just a concubine, the maids at Qingyuxuan were already considering how to serve Concubine Li after she entered the mansion.
"The young master really cares about Consort Li."
“She is very concerned, but the young master has not yet married a proper wife. Once the proper wife is married and enters the family, even Aunt Li will not be able to surpass the young master's wife.”
“I don’t think so. Since the young master allowed his concubine to enter the family first, it proves that his wife is not as important as this concubine in his heart. After all, this is a girl who made the young master disregard the family’s reputation and run away from the marriage, so he wanted to stay with her forever. She is no ordinary girl.”
Upon hearing this, the whispering maids immediately fell silent. They wondered which noble lady was so unlucky that she would marry the young master she already loved and still be overshadowed by the concubines.
Some people are just born lucky. The soon-to-be-married Concubine Li is just an orphan, yet she has won the wholehearted love of the young master. If she had given birth to the eldest son before the young master's wife, her position in the young master's heart would have been absolutely secure.
Gu Xiuming had just come out of the house and was walking out of the courtyard when he did not hear the maid's whispers.
Pass through the artificial hill and cross the covered bridge.
Gu Xiuming then saw a familiar figure, Gu Xiuwen, the second son of the eldest branch of the family and his cousin who was a year younger than him. Gu Xiuwen was walking towards his right. Gu Xiuming paused, lost in thought.
The direction to his right led to Wei Rui Xuan. Puzzled, he quickly stepped forward to stop Gu Xiuwen and greeted his cousin, "Fourth Brother."
Gu Xiuwen hadn't noticed him while he was in a hurry, but now that he saw him, he quickly stopped and greeted him with a smile: "Third Brother, are you also going to Third Aunt's?"
also?
What does "也" mean?
What was he doing going to see that venomous woman, Meng Jinyao, with her honeyed heart and dagger-like face?
That's true. That poisonous woman is now his nominal mother, so it's normal for him to go and pay his respects. But why would his cousin go?
Gu Xiuming frowned slightly and asked the question that had been bothering him: "Fourth brother, what are you going to see her for?"
Gu Xiuwen answered truthfully: "Yesterday, my third aunt was looking for a book, but she couldn't find it after searching for a long time. Today, I saw it by chance in the library and brought it to her."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiuming glanced at his cousin with a strange expression. He had heard that when he ran away from his arranged marriage, he originally intended to choose between his second brother and fourth brother to marry Meng Jinyao, but Meng Jinyao was shameless and chose his father, insisting on marrying him.
That wicked woman is quite beautiful, and now my fourth brother is fawning over her. Could it be...?
It's no wonder he overthinks things. His father has a hidden illness, that poisonous woman is destined to live a life of widowhood after marrying into the family, and his fourth brother is naive and at the age when he is most easily attracted to beautiful girls.
It's normal for something untoward to happen when one person, unable to bear loneliness, has an affair, and the other, just beginning to experience romantic feelings, is tempted by someone.
He said meaningfully, "My fourth brother is very devoted to her."
However, Gu Xiuwen did not understand his cousin's implied meaning. He scratched the back of his head and laughed, "My father and mother told me to be filial to my third uncle and aunt in the future. Actually, I would have done it even without them saying so. After all, my third uncle helped me a lot. What I am doing now is just a trivial matter."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiuming remembered that his cousin was about to study at Lingshan Academy. Among the four brothers, only his cousin had this privilege. Even he, as the heir apparent, had never had his father personally visit the headmaster of Lingshan Academy to ask for a spot.
He wasn't his biological son, and his father didn't treat him well. Compared to him, who was adopted as a cousin, his fourth brother was his father's biological nephew, and their relationship was much closer.
He felt a pang of sadness, but still forced a smile and congratulated his cousin: "Fourth brother, I heard you're going to study at Lingshan Academy. Congratulations!"
Gu Xiuwen readily agreed, "Congratulations to Third Brother on winning the heart of your beauty."
But as soon as he finished speaking, Gu Xiuwen remembered his father and mother's words, saying that it was absurd for his third brother to take a concubine before even getting married. His congratulations seemed a bit off, so he quickly changed the subject: "Actually, I was able to go to Lingshan Academy thanks to my third uncle."
It would have been better if he hadn't said that. After he did, Gu Xiuming's face stiffened slightly, and he couldn't help but feel that he was showing off.
Before Gu Xiuming could reply, Gu Xiuwen's gaze fell on the young woman not far away. His eyes lit up, and he called out, "Third Aunt!"
Meng Jinyao had seen the two brothers earlier, and upon hearing the voice, she nodded slightly to Gu Xiuwen.
As Meng Jinyao approached, Gu Xiuwen bowed to her and said, "Xiuwen greets Third Aunt."
Gu Xiuming had no choice but to bow as well and call out, "Mother."
Meng Jinyao didn't miss the fleeting look of disgust on her adopted son's face. She loved seeing her adopted son hate her but had no choice but to bow and greet her in humiliation. A gentle smile appeared on her lips as she softly asked, "What are you two brothers doing here?"
"Nothing much. I just ran into Third Brother and we chatted for a bit." Gu Xiuwen said, handing her the blue-covered book in his hand. He continued, "Third Aunt, I saw the book you wanted earlier in the library, so I brought it over for you."
Meng Jinyao was slightly taken aback, then took the book and said gently, "Xiuwen is so thoughtful. He remembered it after the elder only mentioned it. Sister-in-law is so lucky to have such a filial child like you."
Gu Xiuwen was a little embarrassed by the praise, his cheeks flushed slightly, and he replied, "Third Brother is also very filial, and Third Aunt and Third Uncle are very fortunate."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao's gaze fell on Gu Xiuming, and her smile deepened: "Yes, Xiuming is also a filial son. Your third uncle and I are truly blessed."
She deliberately emphasized the word "son" slightly, and sure enough, Gu Xiuming's face stiffened, and he glared at her fiercely, which made her feel relieved.
She thought that this person was probably really a bit immoral; she felt happy when she saw others unhappy.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Gu Xiuwen had other matters to attend to and left first, leaving Meng Jinyao, her maid Ningdong, and Gu Xiuming behind.
After Gu Xiuwen had walked a distance, Gu Xiuming's face darkened, his eyes filled with disgust as he glared at Meng Jinyao and said with sarcasm, "Fourth brother is truly filial to mother, but please remember your place at all times. You chose this path yourself, so don't do anything that would bring shame to father and the family."
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